Then There is a Vision of a Planet on Fomalhaut

It is a wonderful first magnitude star for the southern hemisphere, its name means ‘the mouth of the (southern) fish’, derived from the Arabic, (فم الحوت ); representing a mouth of a fish lying on its back, drinking in the waters pouring from the jars of Aquarius. The lying fish is well known as constellation Piscis Austrinus, and the bright one on its mouth is known as Fomalhaut. Fomalhaut is well noted as one of the brightest star in the southern hemisphere.

Piscis Austrinis - Image from solstation.com

Since the ancient time, Fomalhaut has play cultural significance for many observers around the globe. One well known name is Lonely Star of Autumn, because it is the only first-magnitude star in the autumn sky of mid-northern latitudes. For the Persians, Fomalhaut is one of the four ‘royal stars’, that is ‘The Watcher of the North’. Not just for the ancient, Fomalhaut still play major roles for human endeavor in the sky until the modern time. So, what about now?